Ampersand Lab

Intermediate grammar · Lesson 66 · B2

to ... (afraid to do) and preposition + -ing (afraid of -ing)

Some adjectives can take either to ... or a preposition + -ing, with a change in meaning: afraid to do and afraid of doing, interested in doing and interested to hear, sorry for doing and sorry to say. The unit ends with verbs that take to ... set against verbs that take a preposition + -ing.

Start the lesson

15Steps · about 27 minutes

In this lesson

afraid to do and afraid of doingA2 screens of questions
interested in doing and interested to hearB2 screens of questions
sorry for ... and sorry to ...C1 screen of questions
Verb + to ... and verb + preposition + -ingD4 screens of questions

Point A of 4

afraid to do and afraid of doing

I am afraid to do something = I avoid doing it because it is risky or might end badly.

I am afraid of something happening = I fear that something bad will happen. afraid to is wrong here.

Often one causes the other: fear of an outcome (afraid of it happening) is what stops you acting (afraid to do it).

  • The bridge looked rotten. We were afraid to cross it.
  • Kirsty was afraid to tell her boss she'd lost the keys.
  • The floor was wet, so I walked slowly. I was afraid of slipping.
  • I never leave my bike outside. I'm afraid of it being stolen.
  • I was afraid to stroke the horse because I was afraid of being kicked.

Point A · Exercise 66.1 · part 1 of 2

Write a sentence using afraid to ... or afraid of -ing, with the words in brackets.

  1. Example

    The footpath runs along a cliff edge. (many walkers / afraid / use / it)

    Many walkers are afraid to use it.

    AnswerMany walkers are afraid to use it.

  2. Example

    We crossed the frozen pond very slowly. (we / afraid / fall in)

    We were afraid of falling in.

    AnswerWe were afraid of falling in.

  3. I never take my good watch to the gym. (I / afraid / lose / it)

  4. I knew my dad would be furious about the dent in his car. (I / afraid / tell / him)

  5. We ran all the way to the stadium. (we / afraid / miss / the start)

  6. The ghost story got so frightening that the children hid under a blanket. (they / afraid / look)

Point A · Exercise 66.1 · part 2 of 2

Write a sentence using afraid to ... or afraid of -ing, with the words in brackets.

  1. The plates were my gran's best china, so I carried them very carefully. (I / afraid / break / them)

  2. If you don't understand something in the lesson, just put your hand up. (don't / afraid / ask)

  3. I kept checking the gauge because the battery on the electric car was almost empty. (I / afraid / run out of charge)

Point B of 4

interested in doing and interested to hear

I'm interested in doing something means I am thinking of doing it, or I would like to do it. We do not use interested to here.

I was interested to hear / see / know / read something means it was interesting for me. This is the same structure as surprised to ... and glad to ... in unit 65.

  • Are you interested in joining the darts team?
  • We advertised the old sofa, but nobody was interested in taking it.
  • I was interested to hear that the old cinema is reopening.
  • Ask your gran about it. I'd be interested to know what she remembers.

Point B · Exercise 66.2 · part 1 of 2

Complete each sentence with interested in ... or interested to ... and one of these verbs.

Use these

buygohearknowlearnread

  1. Example

    My old guitar has been advertised for weeks, but no one seems interested in buying it.

    AnswerMy old guitar has been advertised for weeks, but no one seems interested in buying it.

  2. Tariq is Japanese. He's found an evening class.

  3. I bumped into Laura in town. You'll be that she's moving to New Zealand.

  4. My brother never liked books as a boy. He wasn't anything at all.

  5. I went to the residents' meeting about the new car park. I was what my neighbours thought of it.

Point B · Exercise 66.2 · part 2 of 2

Complete each sentence with interested in ... or interested to ... and one of these verbs.

Use these

buygohearknowlearnread

  1. Ellie hates clubbing. She isn't out with us tonight.

Point C of 4

sorry for ... and sorry to ...

Use sorry for (doing) to apologise for something you did. You can also say I'm sorry I ....

Use sorry to ... to say that you regret something that happens, and with hear, see, leave and similar verbs.

Use I'm sorry to ... to apologise at the moment you do something, usually just before you interrupt somebody.

  • I'm sorry for losing my temper this morning.
  • I'm sorry I lost my temper this morning.
  • I was sorry to hear that the bakery has closed.
  • It's been a lovely week. We'll be sorry to go home.
  • I'm sorry to interrupt, but your taxi's outside.

Point C · Exercise 66.3

Complete each sentence with sorry for ... or sorry to ... and the verb in brackets.

  1. Example

    I'm sorry to disturb you, but have you got a minute? (disturb)

    AnswerI'm sorry to disturb you, but have you got a minute?

  2. We were that your dad has been in hospital. (hear)

  3. I'm you a liar. I was upset and I didn't mean it. (call)

  4. Mrs Okafor has been our teacher for six years. We'll all be her retire. (see)

  5. I'm you waiting so long. The traffic was terrible. (keep)

Point D of 4

Verb + to ... and verb + preposition + -ing

Some verbs take to .... Others with a similar meaning take a preposition + -ing:

to ... preposition + -ing
I want to go / I'd like to go I'm thinking of going
I hope to go I dream of going
I failed to finish I succeeded in finishing
I allowed them to stay I prevented them from staying
I plan to go I'm looking forward to going
I promised to pay I insisted on paying
  • I'd like to retire early.
  • I'm thinking of retiring early.
  • They failed to win a single match.
  • They succeeded in winning the cup.

Point D · Exercise 66.4 · part 1 of 4

Complete the sentences in each group, using the verb given for that group.

  1. Example

    (Group 1: escape) a The prisoners wanted to escape.

    AnswerThe prisoners wanted to escape.

  2. (Group 1: escape) b The prisoners weren't allowed .

  3. (Group 1: escape) c The prisoners were prevented .

  4. (Group 2: fix) a Lewis and Jo hoped the leak.

  5. (Group 2: fix) b Lewis failed the leak.

Point D · Exercise 66.4 · part 2 of 4

Complete the sentences in each group, using the verb given for that group.

  1. (Group 2: fix) c Jo succeeded the leak.

  2. (Group 3: visit) a I'm thinking my aunt in Glasgow next month.

  3. (Group 3: visit) b I'm planning my aunt in Glasgow next month.

  4. (Group 3: visit) c I'd like my aunt in Glasgow next month.

Point D · Exercise 66.4 · part 3 of 4

Complete the sentences in each group, using the verb given for that group.

  1. (Group 3: visit) d I'm looking forward my aunt in Glasgow next month.

  2. (Group 4: pay) a Grace wanted for the drinks.

  3. (Group 4: pay) b Grace insisted for the drinks.

  4. (Group 4: pay) c Grace promised for the drinks.

Point D · Exercise 66.4 · part 4 of 4

Complete the sentences in each group, using the verb given for that group.

  1. (Group 4: pay) d Grace wouldn't dream for the drinks.

Lesson 66 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: see somebody do and see somebody doingBack to the course

–Right

Each point

A. afraid to do and afraid of doing–Not checkedB. interested in doing and interested to hear–Not checkedC. sorry for ... and sorry to ...–Not checkedD. Verb + to ... and verb + preposition + -ing–Not checked